San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-04-28

does not appear like an ordinary mortal;
she may be genius"
"Violetta must look after yOu," said
the other, smiling. This stranger has
evidently made a deep impression upon
your tickle heart"
Consider my relation purely faith
erly one" replied CastlefOrt. Il assure
you | feel really paternal towards her"
"Why not fTaternal?"
Il do not know exactly; but paternal
it is"
when does the duke return to Ven
ice?" asked the count, suddenly chang
ing the subject.
Not until after the carnival, [ be-
lieve. He is urgent for the revision
and copying of the symphony; l do not
understand his eagerneSs. 1t may, aft
er all, be merely an attempt to tiatter
me; but he declares his intention of
bringing it out in Venice"
When the two friends Joined the
ladies, Lord Castlefort watched with
SOME curiosity to see what effect the
stranger would have upon his friend.
She received the count graCieusly, and
from the first treated him with marked
preference. There was a strange alb
sence of cOnyentiOnality in her manner,
to which, however, ne fault could be
found upon the score of lightness. She
charmed without apparent effort, and
from the first there were firmly estab-
lished between herself and Lord Castle
fort frank and friendly relations, like
those between brother and sister, or. as
he lightly said, of father and daughter.
Lady Castlefort, UPON her part, was
charmed with her guest; and as was her
wont, began at once to plan a letter to
Lady stoccati, full of the praises of her
friends daughter. AS Lady CastlefOi't
was VIGOROUSLY poor correspondent,
however, the letter remained unwTitten,
although from day to day my lady de-
vised new and well-turned phrases
wherewith to embellish it.
The spell of the maiden seemed to eX-
tend itself to all the household. BrOgni,
too, was completely subdued by it. He
experienced to some degree the same
sense of former acquaintance which had
puzzled Castlefort.
"But that is natural" he said to his
friend, "Eyery beautiful woman is a
Renaissance of Paradise"
Upon the first evening he found him
self following SignOra StOccati's every
movement with close gaze, and when
after repeated requests she consented
TO play, he led her TO the piano with an
air of devotion Of which he was only
half aware.
Lord CastlefOrt awaited the first notes
with impotence. The guests cOnversa-
ton had Shown her to be thoroughly
eOnversant with musical theory and
form, and for her performance he an
ticipated something truly excellent.
What was his surprise when the player
struck the opening bars of the first
movement of the symphony. The entire
Gndqnte followed, played not only with
the utmost correctness, but with re-
markable fire and tenderness. AS far
as the cOlOring of orchestral music could
be given upon the pianofOrte, her per-
Torrance was perfect.
Astonishment and admiration were
mingled in the feelings of her hearers.
The count, leaning forward as he sat,
seemed wrapt in the music. He remain
ed silent after the last chord had ceased
TO vibrate; but CastlefOrt cried out in
eXulting surprise:
where did you learn the andants Of
my symphony"
Il have to beg your pardon" she re-
piled smiling, "the themes are lying
here upon the piano."